Reel Futures: LGBTQIA+ Voices

 
 Reel Futures: LGBTQIA+ Voices

Stories of identity, connection, courage and self-discovery.
Join us for the final event in Reel Futures, a screening season exploring bold, boundary-pushing short films from across the UK and beyond.
Reel Futures is a season of short films curated by Mansfield Town Film Festival, designed to bring festival-quality cinema into the heart of the community while creating a direct pathway for students and members of the public alike into MTFF26 this September.
For this special edition, we’re spotlighting LGBTQIA+ Voices, a powerful collection of short films exploring identity, sexuality, gender, family, belonging and the courage it takes to live authentically. From tender romances and surreal comedy to deeply personal stories of resilience and self-expression, these films celebrate the richness and diversity of LGBTQIA+ experiences across the world.

 
The Films:

Theo’s Friend (10:48)
Directed by: Joshua Black

Ready for the repercussions, a defiant Theo wears makeup to his college football training session. What follows tests both his courage and his determination to embrace who he truly is.

It Gets Better (8:38)
Directed by: Asa Pegler

A powerful and deeply personal exploration of the realities faced by young trans people in the UK, touching on identity, abuse, bullying and survival, while ultimately delivering a hopeful message: it gets better.

The Shade of Chlorine (22:18)
Directed by: Clément Dezelus

Bilal dreams of a life beyond the odd jobs he finds through the BOY app. Hired to clean a luxurious villa, he becomes captivated by Ulysses, the owners’ son, in a story of desire, longing and possibility.

Queen Size (19:52)
Directed by: Avril Besson

Marina thinks she’s simply selling a mattress. But over the course of a single day, an unexpected connection begins to quietly reshape her future.

Do You Want To (6:30)
Directed by: Andy Berriman

Under the sheets, Connor and Jake’s relationship is put to the test as bedtime conversation spirals into a funny, awkward and surprisingly heartfelt reflection on intimacy, communication and modern romance.

Captured For Life (12:46)
Directed by: Fiona Hughes

Told through the eyes of a young girl in the Scottish Highlands, this moving documentary uncovers the remarkable love story of Denise’s parents, who met and fell in love in a World War Two POW camp.

Wild Oats (7:42)
Directed by: Rosa Duncan

Stuck on her family farm and quietly obsessed with celebrity crush Céline, shy teenager Rhona struggles to find privacy amongst goats, chickens and an overbearing father in this funny, chaotic and heartfelt coming-of-age story.

What to Expect

After the screening, we’ll host a 45-minute hybrid Q&A, with filmmakers both in the room and joining remotely from around the world.
Audiences will have the opportunity to engage directly with the creators of the films they’ve just experienced, asking questions, exploring creative choices, and diving deeper into the themes raised on screen.
Whether you’re a film lover, an aspiring creative, or simply curious, this is your chance to experience cinema differently, not just watching stories unfold, but being part of the conversation.

Agenda
4:30pm – Doors open
5:00pm – 5:15pm – Introductions
5:15pm – 6:45pm – Films
6:45pm – 7:00pm – Break
7:00pm – 7:45pm – Filmmaker Q&A
7:45pm – 8:00pm – Closing and event end

Event Details
Doors Open: 4:30PM
Start Time: 5:00PM